TITLE: Dancehall Queen

Before I began photographing people, I used to struggle with confidence. I constantly overthought if what I had to say would be relevant, and my own thoughts were my worst enemy. Fortunately, the camera relieved my anxiety and provided an outlet for me to approach people with confidence, especially women. This image represents the result of curiosity meeting confidence. The woman in the photo was a stranger who I spotted dancing freely by the balloons to the sounds of trap music. She was in her element, as was I. Her attention-grabbing outfit and low-cut hairstyle demanded attention. I kindly asked her if I could capture her photo posing by the balloons. "I want you to show me your confidence!" I told her. She put her hands on her hips and the rest is history.

AUTHOR: Ahmad Harmon (United States)

Ahmad Esco Harmon has been capturing vivid cultural perspectives through photography since 2016. His focus is on documenting underrepresented communities and showcasing the everyday lives of those around him. I am driven by the desire to travel and document my experiences through photography. By observing people, places, and things outside of my comfort zone, I aim to broaden my perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of the world. Through road trips across the country, I hope to provide a new perspective to my community, showing them that there is more to life than what lies within their neighborhood. I believe solo travel with a camera can be empowering, as it provides growth, refinement, and challenging opportunities. By presenting my personal development through my photographs, I aim to vividly represent what I have experienced and learned. As a cultural enthusiast, I fully immerse myself in unfamiliar societies in order to gain a deeper understanding of their daily lives.